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United States Patent |
5,747,093
|
Kaczmarczyk
|
May 5, 1998
|
Sucrose-free dietary fiber composition
Abstract
A sucrose-free, artificial sweetener-free dietary fiber composition
contains about 2 to about 95 percent methylcellulose by weight based on
total weight of the composition, about 5 to about 40 percent natural
coconut, and, 0 to about 93 percent non-sucrose containing inactive
materials. The contents are preferably in fine powder form. The inactive
materials include particulate filler materials, such as powdered natural
grains. In one preferred embodiment, the invention is a sucrose-free,
non-allergenic dietary fiber composition, consisting essentially of about
2 to about 95 percent methylcellulose balance being natural coconut, based
on the total weight of the methylcellulose and the coconut, more
preferably, there is about 2 to about 40 percent methylcellulose balance
being natural coconut.
Inventors:
|
Kaczmarczyk; Sabina W. (119 E. Main St., Somerville, NJ 08876)
|
Appl. No.:
|
829083 |
Filed:
|
March 31, 1997 |
Current U.S. Class: |
426/617; 426/93; 426/548; 426/573 |
Intern'l Class: |
A23L 001/212; A23L 001/053.4 |
Field of Search: |
426/573,617,93,548
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
512050 | Apr., 1894 | Walker et al. | 426/617.
|
1060912 | May., 1913 | Lasby | 426/617.
|
4098912 | Jul., 1978 | Mercado-Flores et al. | 426/617.
|
4619831 | Oct., 1986 | Sharma.
| |
5073370 | Dec., 1991 | Meer et al.
| |
5516524 | May., 1996 | Kais et al.
| |
Other References
A product kown as Citrucel.RTM. manufactured by SmithKline Beacham Consumer
Healthcare, L.P., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
|
Primary Examiner: Pratt; Helen
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Glynn, Esq.; Kenneth P.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A sucrose-free, artificial sweetener-free dietary fiber composition
which comprises:
(a) about 2 to about 95 percent methylcellulose by weight based on total
weight of the composition;
(b) about 5 to about 40 percent natural coconut; and,
(c) 0 to about 93 percent non-sucrose, non- artificial sweetener containing
inactive materials.
2. The composition of claim 1 wherein said coconut is powdered coconut.
3. The composition of claim 1 further containing a preservative to extend
shelf life of the coconut.
4. The composition of claim 1 wherein said inactive materials include
particulate filler materials.
5. The composition of claim 4 wherein said filler materials are selected
from the group consisting of powdered natural grains of wheat, corn,
barley, rye oats and mixtures thereof.
6. The composition of claim 1 wherein said composition is a fine powdered
mixture.
7. The composition of claim 1 which contains about 2 to about 40 percent
methylcellulose.
8. The composition of claim 7 which contains about 5 to about 25 percent
natural coconut.
9. The composition of claim 8 which contains about 20 to about 93 percent
non-sucrose containing inactive materials.
10. The composition of claim 7 which contains about 20 to about 93 percent
non-sucrose containing inactive materials.
11. The composition of claim 1 which contains about 5 to about 25 percent
natural coconut.
12. The composition of claim 11 which contains about 20 to about 93 percent
non-sucrose containing inactive materials.
13. The composition of claim 1 which contains about 20 to about 93 percent
non-sucrose containing inactive materials.
14. A sucrose-free, artificial sweetener-free non-allergenic dietary fiber
composition, which consists essentially of:
about 2 to about 95 percent methylcellulose, balance being natural coconut,
based on the total weight of the methylcellulose and the coconut.
15. The composition of claim 14 wherein there is about 2 to about 40
percent methylcellulose, balance being natural coconut.
16. The composition of claim 14 further containing a preservative to extend
shelf life of the coconut.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to dietary supplements for regularity, and
more particularly, to sucrose-free, artificial sweetener-free dietary
compositions containing methylcellulose and coconut. In one preferred
composition, only non-allergenic constituents are used.
2. Information Disclosure Statement
The following represents teachings relating to fiber-based dietary
supplements:
U.S. Pat. No. 4,619,831 issued to Shri C. Sharma, on Oct. 28, 1986,
describes a dietary fiber composition which is prepared by coating an
insoluble fiber with a soluble fiber. The insoluble fiber is preferably
derived from cereal bran by enzymatically and chemically purifying the
bran. The soluble fiber is preferably pectin or an alginate. The dietary
fiber composition can be used to prepare low calorie, high fiber content
dietary food products.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,073,370 issued to E. Harvey Meer et al, on Dec. 17, 1991,
describes a natural fiber laxative that is provided which consists of
psyllium husk, apple fiber, fructose, gum arabic and flavorants. The
psyllium husk and the apple fiber constitute together at least 75% by
weight of the composition. The granular components are controlled to have
a particle size less than that determined by a No. 50 mesh, thereby
improving mouthfeel. The composition is, in addition to being all natural,
low in calorie and high in fiber and when mixed with water has a palatable
mouthfeel.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,516,524 issued to Theresa m. Kais et al, on May 14, 1996
describes an ingestible laxative composition which comprises specified
amounts of dioctyl sulfosuccinate and bulk fiber selected from the group
consisting of psyllium, methylcellulose, polycarbophil, calcium
polycarbophil, bran, malt soup extract, karaya, guar gum, and mixtures
thereof, preferably in single dose form.
A product known as Citrucel.RTM. distributed by SmithKline Beecham Consumer
Healthcare, L. P., Pittsburgh, Pa., is a methylcellulose fiber therapy for
regularity which includes methylcellulose, a nonallergenic fiber, as the
active ingredient and includes fruit flavors, citric acid, sucrose and
other inactives. Their sugar-free product under the same trademark
contains an artificial sweetener as well as natural fruit flavors.
Notwithstanding the above prior art, there are no teachings or suggestions
that would render the present invention anticipated or obvious, wherein
sucrose-free dietary compositions are based on methylcellulose-coconut
mixtures.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A sucrose-free, artificial sweetener-free dietary fiber composition
contains about 2 to about 95 percent methylcellulose by weight based on
total weight of the composition, about 5 to about 40 percent natural
coconut, and, 0 to about 93 percent non-sucrose, non-artificial sweetener
containing, inactive materials. The contents are preferably in fine powder
form. The inactive materials include particulate filler materials, such as
powdered natural grains. In one preferred embodiment, the invention is a
sucrose-free, non-allergenic dietary fiber composition, consisting
essentially of about 2 to about 95 percent methylcellulose balance being
natural coconut, based on the total weight of the methylcellulose and the
coconut, more preferably, there is about 2 to about 40 percent
methylcellulose balance being natural coconut.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
For about three decades there has been an increased awareness among
consumers regarding the benefits of high fiber content diets. These
benefits include apparent decreases in intestinal and colon diseases,
including cancer. Additionally, fiber products are used as therapy for
regularity and are often used in place of other laxative products. As
described above, the prior art is replete with edible fibrous cellulose
products. However, they contain oils, sucrose, fat syrups, acids such as
citric acid, fruits and sweeteners.
The primary objective of the present invention is to provide dietary fiber
compositions which exclude any significant amounts of sucrose or
artificial sweetener. The purpose of the present invention is multifold:
(1) to provide a sugar-free, artificial sweetener-free product to
consumers who require fiber therapy for regularity and who philosophically
abhor sugar intake; (2) to provide non-allergenic products for people who
have needs for fiber therapy for regularity and require non-allergenic
products; and, (3) to provide sugar-free products to people who require
sugar-free diets, such as people who do not tolerate sugar-containing
products, as well as hyperglycemics and hypoglycemics. Thus, a secondary
purpose of the present invention is to provide the aforesaid products in a
non-allergenic form.
Thus, one embodiment of the present invention involves compositions
essentially consisting of only methylcellulose and natural coconut. These
compositions typically contain about 2 to 95 percent methylcellulose,
balance being natural coconut, based on the total weight of the
methylcellulose and the natural coconut. Typically, there is about 2 to 40
percent methylcellulose, balance being natural coconut. Both the
methylcellulose and the natural coconut are in powdered form. In another
embodiment, preservatives may be included to extend the life of the
coconut. Such additives include BHT or other known preservatives within
the skill of the artisan.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the compositions
include methylcellulose, coconut and inactive non-sucrose containing
non-artificial sweetener materials. Thus the composition includes about 2
to about 95 percent methylcellulose, about 5 to about 40 percent natural
coconut and up to about 93 percent non-sucrose additional materials. These
additional materials may be particulate fillers, or nutrients, vitamins or
other additives. The fillers may be natural grains such as wheat, corn,
barley, rye oats or mixtures thereof. In one preferred embodiment, the
composition contains about 2 to about 40 percent methylcellulose, about 5
to about 25 percent natural coconut and about 20 to about 93 percent
non-sucrose containing inactive materials. Active materials may also be
included without exceeding present scope of invention, but are
non-essential.
The above compositions generally cannot be consumed dry, and should be
mixed with water or other liquids. Thus, with the composition of the
present invention, consumers enjoy sucrose-free, artificial
sweetener-free, beneficial dietary fiber supplements with the enjoyment of
coconut flavor.
The following examples are representative of the present invention:
______________________________________
CONTENT AMOUNT (g) %
______________________________________
EXAMPLE 1
methylcellulose 33 66
powdered coconut 17 34
EXAMPLE 2
methylcellulose 25 25
powdered coconut 75 75
EXAMPLE 3
methylcellulose 20 20
powdered coconut 10 10
powdered rye oat 70 70
EXAMPLE 4
methylcellulose 15 15
powdered coconut 15 15
powdered wheat 60 60
rivoflavin 5 5
powdered corn 4 4
ascorbic acid 1 1
______________________________________
Obviously numerous modifications and variations of the present invention
are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore understood
that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be
practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.
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